Battery heating circuits and methods based on battery discharging using resonance components in series

ABSTRACT

According to certain embodiments, a battery heating circuit is provided, comprising a switch unit  1 , a switching control module  100 , a damping component R 1 , and an energy storage circuit; the energy storage circuit is configured to be connected with the battery and comprises a current storage component L 1  and a charge storage component C 1 ; the damping component R 1 , the switch unit  1 , the current storage component L 1 , and the charge storage component C 1  are connected in series; the switching control module  100  is connected with the switch unit  1 , and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit  1 , so as to control energy flowing from the battery to the energy storage circuit only. For example, the heating circuit provided in the present invention can improve the charge/discharge performance of the battery, and improve safety when the battery is heated.

1. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the following six applications, allof which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

-   -   (i) Chinese Patent Application No. 201010245288.0, filed Jul.        30, 2010;    -   (ii) Chinese Patent Application No. 201010274785.3, filed Aug.        30, 2010;    -   (iii) Chinese Patent Application No. 201010605772.X, filed Dec.        23, 2010;    -   (iv) Chinese Patent Application No. 201010603717.7, filed Dec.        23, 2010;    -   (v) Chinese Patent Application No. 201010604714.5, filed Dec.        23, 2010; and    -   (vi) Chinese Patent Application No. 201010606082.6, filed Dec.        23, 2010.

Additionally, this application is related to International ApplicationPublication No. WO2010/145439A1 and Chinese Application Publication No.CN102055042A, both these two applications being incorporated byreference herein for all purposes. Moreover, U.S. patent applicationNos. 13/168,004, 13/168,014, and 13/170,021 are incorporated byreference herein for all purposes.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to electric and electronic field, inparticular related to a battery heating circuit.

Considering cars need to run under complex road conditions andenvironmental conditions or some electronic devices are used under harshenvironmental conditions, the battery, which serves as the power supplyunit for electric-motor cars or electronic devices, need to be adaptiveto these complex conditions. In addition, besides these conditions, theservice life and charge/discharge cycle performance of the battery needto be taken into consideration; especially, when electric-motor cars orelectronic devices are used in low temperature environments, the batteryneeds to have outstanding low-temperature charge/discharge performanceand higher input/output power performance.

Usually, under low temperature conditions, the resistance of the batterywill increase, and so will the polarization; therefore, the capacity ofthe battery will be reduced.

To keep the capacity of the battery and improve the charge/dischargeperformance of the battery under low temperature conditions, someembodiments of the present invention provide a battery heating circuit.

3. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of certain embodiments of the present invention is toprovide a battery heating circuit, in order to solve the problem ofdecreased capacity of the battery caused by increased resistance andpolarization of the battery under low temperature conditions.

According to one embodiment, a battery heating circuit is provided,comprising a switch unit, a switching control module, a dampingcomponent R1, and an energy storage circuit; the energy storage circuitis configured to be connected with the battery and comprises a currentstorage component L1 and a charge storage component C1; the dampingcomponent R1, the switch unit, the current storage component L1, and thecharge storage component C1 are connected in series; the switchingcontrol module is connected with the switch unit and is configured tocontrol ON/OFF of the switch unit, so as to control energy flowing fromthe battery to the energy storage circuit only.

According to some embodiments, the heating circuit provided in thepresent invention can improve the charge/discharge performance of thebattery; in addition, for example, since the energy storage circuit isconnected with the battery in series within the heating circuit, safetyproblem related with short circuit caused by failure of the switch unitcan be avoided when the battery is heated due to the existence of thecharge storage component connected in series, and therefore the batterycan be protected effectively. Moreover, in another example, in theheating circuit of the present invention, since the energy only flowsfrom the battery to the energy storage circuit, the charge storagecomponent will not charge the battery at low temperature; therefore, thecharge/discharge performance of the battery can be protected moreeffectively.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will befurther described in detail in the following section for embodiments.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, as a part of this description, are providedhere to facilitate further understanding of the present invention, andare used in conjunction with the following embodiments to explain thepresent invention, but shall not be comprehended as constituting anylimitation on the present invention. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuitaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the switch unit as part of thebattery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the switch unit as part of thebattery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuitincluding an energy superposition unit according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the energy superposition unit aspart of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 4 according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the polarity inversion unit forthe energy superposition unit as part of the battery heating circuit asshown in FIG. 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the polarity inversion unit forthe energy superposition unit as part of the battery heating circuit asshown in FIG. 5 according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the polarity inversion unit forthe energy superposition unit as part of the battery heating circuit asshown in FIG. 5 according to yet another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the first DC-DC module for thepolarity inversion unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shownin FIG. 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuitincluding an energy transfer unit according to yet another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the energy transfer unit as partof the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 10 according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the electricity recharge unit forthe energy transfer unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shownin FIG. 11 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the second DC-DC module forelectricity recharge unit as part of the battery heating circuit asshown in FIG. 12 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuitincluding an energy superposition and transfer unit according to yetanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the energy superposition andtransfer unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 14according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuitincluding an energy consumption unit according to yet another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the energy consumption unit aspart of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 16 according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuitaccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a timing diagram of waveforms of the battery heating circuitas shown in FIG. 18 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detailbelow, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should beappreciated that the embodiments described here are only provided todescribe and explain the present invention, but shall not be deemed asconstituting any limitation on the present invention.

It is noted that, unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafterin this description, the term “switching control module” may refer toany controller that can output control commands (e.g., pulse waveforms)under preset conditions or at preset times and thereby control theswitch unit connected to it to switch on or switch off accordingly,according to some embodiments. For example, the switching control modulecan be a PLC. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter inthis description, the term “switch” may refer to a switch that enablesON/OFF control by using electrical signals or enables ON/OFF control onthe basis of the characteristics of the component according to certainembodiments. For example, the switch can be either a one-way switch(e.g., a switch composed of a two-way switch and a diode connected inseries, which can be conductive in one direction) or a two-way switch(e.g., a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) oran IGBT with an anti-parallel freewheeling diode). Unless otherwisespecified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term“two-way switch” may refer to a switch that can be conductive in twodirections, which can enable ON/OFF control by using electrical signalsor enable ON/OFF control on the basis of the characteristics of thecomponent according to some embodiments. For example, the two-way switchcan be a MOSFET or an IGBT with an anti-parallel freewheeling diode.Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in thisdescription, the term “one-way semiconductor component” may refer to asemiconductor component that can be conductive in one direction, such asa diode, according to certain embodiments. Unless otherwise specified,when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “charge storagecomponent” may refer to any device that can enable charge storage, suchas a capacitor, according to some embodiments. Unless otherwisespecified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term“current storage component” may refer to any device that can storecurrent, such as an inductor, according to certain embodiments. Unlessotherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, theterm “forward direction” may refer to the direction in which the energyflows from the battery to the energy storage circuit, and the term“reverse direction” may refer to the direction in which the energy flowsfrom the energy storage circuit to the battery, according to someembodiments. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter inthis description, the term “battery” may comprise primary battery (e.g.,dry battery or alkaline battery, etc.) and secondary battery (e.g.,lithium-ion battery, nickel-cadmium battery, nickel-hydrogen battery, orlead-acid battery, etc.), according to certain embodiments. Unlessotherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, theterm “damping component” may refer to any device that inhibits currentflow and thereby enables energy consumption, such as a resistor, etc.,according to some embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, whenmentioned hereafter in this description, the term “main loop” may referto a loop composed of battery, damping component, switch unit and energystorage circuit connected in series according to certain embodiments.

It should be noted specially that, considering different types ofbatteries have different characteristics, in some embodiments of thepresent invention, “battery” may refer to an ideal battery that does nothave internal parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance or has verylow internal parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance, or may referto a battery pack that has internal parasitic resistance and parasiticinductance; therefore, those skilled in the art should appreciate thatif the battery is an ideal battery that does not have internal parasiticresistance and parasitic inductance or has very low internal parasiticresistance and parasitic inductance, the damping component R1 may referto a damping component external to the battery and the current storagecomponent L1 may refer to a current storage component external to thebattery; if the battery is a battery pack that has internal parasiticresistance and parasitic inductance, the damping component R1 may referto a damping component external to the battery or refer to the parasiticresistance in the battery pack, and the current storage component L1 mayrefer to a current storage component external to the battery or refer tothe parasitic inductance in the battery pack, according to certainembodiments.

To ensure the normal service life of the battery, according to someembodiments, the battery can be heated under low temperature condition,which is to say, when the heating condition is met, the heating circuitis controlled to start heating for the battery; when the heating stopcondition is met, the heating circuit is controlled to stop heating,according to certain embodiments.

In the actual application of battery, the battery heating condition andheating stop condition can be set according to the actual ambientconditions, to ensure normal charge/discharge performance of thebattery, according to some embodiments.

To heat up a battery E in low temperature environment, one embodiment ofthe present invention provides a heating circuit for battery E; as shownin FIG. 1, the battery heating circuit comprising a switch unit 1, aswitching control module 100, a damping component R1, and an energystorage circuit, the energy storage circuit is configured to connectedwith the battery and comprises a current storage component L1 and acharge storage component C1; the damping component R1, switch unit 1,current storage component L1, and charge storage component C1 areconnected in series; the switching control module 100 is connected withthe switch unit 1 and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit1, so as to control energy flowing from the battery to the energystorage circuit only.

To avoid charging the battery E, in the technical scheme of someembodiments of the present invention, when the heating condition is met,the switching control module 100 controls the switch unit 1 to switchon, and therefore the battery E is connected in series with the dampingcomponent R1, switch unit 1, current storage component L1, and chargestorage component C1 to form a loop, and the battery E dischargesthrough the said loop; the switching control module 100 is configured tocontrol the switch unit 1 to switch off when or before the currentflowing through the switch unit 1 reaches zero after the switch unit 1switches on in the discharge process of the battery E, as long as thecurrent flows only from the battery E to the charge storage componentC1. In the discharge process of battery E, the current in the loop flowsin forward direction through the damping component R1, so that thepurpose of heating up the battery E could be achieved by using the heatgeneration in the damping component R1. Above discharge process iscarried out cyclically, till the heating stop condition is met; then,the switching control module 100 controls the switch unit 1 to switchoff, so that the heating circuit stops operation.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, theswitch unit 1 comprises a switch K1 and a one-way semiconductorcomponent D1, wherein: the switch K1 and the one-way semiconductorcomponent D1 are connected with each other in series, and then connectedin series in the energy storage circuit; the switching control module100 is connected with the switch K1, and is configured to control ON/OFFof the switch unit 1 by controlling ON/OFF of the switch K1. Byconnecting a one-way semiconductor component D1 in series in thecircuit, energy backflow from the charge storage component C1 can beprevented, and thereby charging of battery E can be avoided in case theswitch K1 fails.

Since the current drop rate is very high when the switch K1 switchesoff, high over-voltage will be induced on the current storage componentL1 and may cause damage to the switch K1 because the current and voltageare beyond the safe working range. Therefore, preferably the switchingcontrol module 100 is configured to control the switch K1 to switch offwhen the current flow through the switch unit 1 reaches zero after theswitch unit 1 switches on.

To improve heating efficiency, preferably, in another embodiment of thepresent invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching control module 100is configured to control the switch unit 1 to switch off before thecurrent flow through the switch unit 1 reaches zero after the switchunit 1 switches on; the switch unit 1 comprises a one-way semiconductorcomponent D9, a one-way semiconductor component D10, a switch K2, adamping component R4, and a charge storage component C3, wherein: theone-way semiconductor component D9 and the switch K2 are connected inseries in the energy storage circuit, the damping component R4 and thecharge storage component C3 are connected in series, and then connectedin parallel across the switch K2; the one-way semiconductor componentD10 is connected in parallel across the damping component R4, and isconfigured to sustain the current to the current storage component L1when the switch K2 switches off; the switching control module 100 isconnected with the switch K2, and is configured to control ON/OFF of theswitch unit 1 by controlling ON/OFF of the switch K2.

The one-way semiconductor component D10, damping component R4, andcharge storage component C3 constitute an absorption loop, which isconfigured to reduce the current drop rate in the energy storage circuitwhen the switch K2 switches off. Thus, when the switch K2 switches off,the induced voltage generated on the current storage component L1 willforce the one-way semiconductor component D10 to switch on and enablescurrent freewheeling with the charge storage component C3, so as toreduce the current change rate in the current storage component L1 andto suppress the induced voltage across the current storage component L1,to ensure the voltage across the switch K2 is within the safe workingrange. When the switch K2 switches on again, the energy stored in thecharge storage component C3 can be consumed through the dampingcomponent R4.

To improve heating efficiency, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 4, the heating circuit provided can comprisean energy superposition unit, which is connected with the energy storagecircuit, and is configured to superpose the energy in the energy storagecircuit with the energy in the battery E after the switch unit 1switches on and then switches off. With the energy superposition unit,the discharging current in the heating loop can be increased when theswitch unit 1 switches on again, and thereby the working efficiency ofthe heating circuit is improved.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, theenergy superposition unit comprises a polarity inversion unit 102, whichis connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured toinvert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 after theswitch unit 1 switches on and then switches off; after polarityinversion, the voltage of the charge storage component C1 can be addedin series to the voltage of the battery E.

As one embodiment of the polarity inversion unit 102, as shown in FIG.6, the polarity inversion unit 102 comprises a single-pole double-throwswitch J1 and a single-pole double-throw switch J2 located on the twoends of the charge storage component C1 respectively; the input wires ofthe single-pole double-throw switch J1 are connected in the energystorage circuit, the first output wire of the single-pole double-throwswitch J1 is connected with the first pole plate of the charge storagecomponent C1, and the second output wire of the single-pole double-throwswitch J1 is connected with the second pole plate of the charge storagecomponent C1; the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J2are connected in the energy storage circuit, the first output wire ofthe single-pole double-throw switch J2 is connected with the second poleplate of the charge storage component C1, and the second output wire ofthe single-pole double-throw switch J2 is connected with the first poleplate of the charge storage component C1; the switching control module100 is also connected with the single-pole double-throw switch J1 andsingle-pole double-throw switch J2 respectively, and is configured toinvert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 byaltering the connection relationships between the respective input wiresand output wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 and thesingle-pole double-throw switch J2.

According to this embodiment, the connection relationships between therespective input wires and output wires of the single-pole double-throwswitch J1 and single-pole double-throw switch J2 can be set in advance,so that the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 areconnected with the first output wire of the switch unit K1 and the inputwires of the single-pole double-throw switch J2 are connected with thefirst output wire of the switch unit K1 when the switch unit K1 switcheson; the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 areswitched to connect with the second output wire of the switch unit K1and the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J2 areswitched to connect with the second output wire of the switch unit K1under control of the switching control module 100 when the switch unitK1 switches off, and thereby the voltage polarity of the charge storagecomponent C1 is inverted.

As another embodiment of the polarity inversion unit 102, as shown inFIG. 7, the polarity inversion unit 102 comprises a one-waysemiconductor component D3, a current storage component L2, and a switchK9; the charge storage component C1, current storage component L2, andswitch K9 are connected sequentially in series to form a loop; theone-way semiconductor component D3 is connected in series between thecharge storage component C1 and the current storage component L2 orbetween the current storage component L2 and the switch K9; theswitching control module 100 is also connected with the switch K9, andis configured to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storagecomponent C1 by controlling the switch K9 to switch on.

According to the above embodiment, when the switch unit 1 switches off,the switch K9 can be controlled to switch on by the switching controlmodule 100, and thereby the charge storage component C1, one-waysemiconductor component D3, current storage component L2, and switch K9form a LC oscillation loop, and the charge storage component C1discharges through the current storage component L2, thus, the voltagepolarity of the charge storage component C1 will be inverted when thecurrent flowing through the current storage component L2 reaches zeroafter the current in the oscillation circuit flows through the positivehalf cycle.

As yet another embodiment of the polarity inversion unit 102, as shownin FIG. 8, the polarity inversion unit 102 comprises a first DC-DCmodule 2 and a charge storage component C2; the first DC-DC module 2 isconnected with the charge storage component C1 and the charge storagecomponent C2 respectively; the switching control module 100 is alsoconnected with the first DC-DC module 2, and is configured to transferthe energy in the charge storage component C1 to the charge storagecomponent C2 by controlling the operation of the first DC-DC module 2,and then transfer the energy in the charge storage component C2 back tothe charge storage component C1, so as to invert the voltage polarity ofthe charge storage component C1.

The first DC-DC module 2 is a DC-DC (direct current to direct current)conversion circuit for voltage polarity inversion commonly used in thefield. The present invention does not impose any limitation to thespecific circuit structure of the first DC-DC module 2, as long as themodule can accomplish voltage polarity inversion of the charge storagecomponent C1, according to some embodiments. Those skilled in the artcan add, substitute, or delete the components in the circuit as needed.

FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of the first DC-DC module 2 provided in thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the first DC-DC module 2comprises: a two-way switch Q1, a two-way switch Q2, a two-way switchQ3, a two-way switch Q4, a first transformer T1, a one-way semiconductorcomponent D4, a one-way semiconductor component D5, a current storagecomponent L3, a two-way switch Q5, a two-way switch Q6, a secondtransformer T2, a one-way semiconductor component D6, a one-waysemiconductor component D7, and a one-way semiconductor component D8.

In the embodiment, the two-way switch Q1, two-way switch Q2, two-wayswitch Q3, and two-way switch Q4 are MOSFETs, and the two-way switch Q5and two-way switch Q6 are IGBTs.

The Pin 1, 4, and 5 of the first transformer T1 are dotted terminals,and the pin 2 and 3 of the second transformer T2 are dotted terminals.

Wherein: the positive electrode of the one-way semiconductor componentD7 is connected with the end ‘a’ of the charge storage component C1, andthe negative electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D7 isconnected with the drain electrodes of the two-way switch Q1 and two-wayswitch Q2, respectively; the source electrode of the two-way switch Q1is connected with the drain electrode of the two-way switch Q3, and thesource electrode of the two-way switch Q2 is connected with the drainelectrode of the two-way switch Q4; the source electrodes of the two-wayswitch Q3 and two-way switch Q4 are connected with the end ‘b’ of thecharge storage component C1 respectively. Thus, a full-bridge circuit isformed, here, the voltage polarity of end ‘a’ of the charge storagecomponent C1 is positive, while the voltage polarity of end ‘b’ of thecharge storage component C1 is negative.

In the full-bridge circuit, the two-way switch Q1, two-way switch Q2constitute the upper bridge arm, while the two-way switch Q3 and two-wayswitch Q4 constitute the lower bridge arm. The full-bridge circuit isconnected with the charge storage component C2 via the first transformerT1; the pin 1 of the first transformer T1 is connected with the firstnode N1, the pin 2 of the first transformer T1 is connected with thesecond node N2, the pin 3 and pin 5 of the first transformer T1 areconnected to the positive electrode of the one-way semiconductorcomponent D4 and the positive electrode of the one-way semiconductorcomponent D5 respectively; the negative electrode of one-waysemiconductor component D4 and the negative electrode of one-waysemiconductor component D5 are connected with one end of the currentstorage component L3, and the other end of the current storage componentL3 is connected with the end ‘d’ of the charge storage component C2; thepin 4 of the transformer T1 is connected with the end ‘c’ of the chargestorage component C2, the positive electrode of the one-waysemiconductor component D8 is connected with the end ‘d’ of the chargestorage component C2, and the negative electrode of the one-waysemiconductor component D8 is connected with the end ‘b’ of the chargestorage component C1; here, the voltage polarity of end ‘c’ of thecharge storage component C2 is negative, while the voltage polarity ofend ‘d’ of the charge storage component C2 is positive.

Wherein: the end ‘c’ of the charge storage component C2 is connectedwith the emitter electrode of the two-way switch Q5, the collectorelectrode of the two-way switch Q5 is connected with the pin 2 of thetransformer T2, the pin 1 of the transformer T2 is connected with end‘a’ of the charge storage component C1, the pin 4 of the transformer T2is connected with end ‘a’ of the charge storage component C1, the pin 3of the transformer T2 is connected with the positive electrode of theone-way semiconductor component D6, the negative electrode of theone-way semiconductor component D6 is connected with the collectorelectrode of the two-way switch Q6, and the emitter electrode of thetwo-way switch Q6 is connected with the end ‘b’ of the charge storagecomponent C2.

Wherein: the two-way switch Q1, two-way switch Q2, two-way switch Q3,two-way switch Q4, two-way switch Q5, and two-way switch Q6 arecontrolled by the switching control module 100 respectively to switch onand switch off.

Hereafter the working process of the first DC-DC module 2 will bedescribed:

1. After the switch unit 1 switches off, the switching control module100 controls the two-way switch Q5 and two-way switch Q6 to switch off,and controls the two-way switch Q1 and two-way switch Q4 to switch on atthe same time to form phase A; controls the two-way switch Q2 andtwo-way switch Q3 to switch on at the same time to form phase B. Thus,by controlling the phase A and phase B to switch on alternately, afull-bridge circuit is formed;

2. When the full-bridge circuit operates, the energy in the chargestorage component C1 is transferred through the first transformer T1,one-way semiconductor component D4, one-way semiconductor component D5,and current storage component L3 to the charge storage component C2;now, the voltage polarity of end ‘c’ of the charge storage component C2is negative, while the voltage polarity of end ‘d’ of the charge storagecomponent C2 is positive.

3. The switching control module 100 controls the two-way switch Q5 toswitch on, and therefore a path from the charge storage component C1 tothe charge storage component C2 is formed via the second transformer T2and the one-way semiconductor component D8, thus, the energy in thecharge storage component C2 is transferred back to the charge storagecomponent C1, wherein: some energy will be stored in the secondtransformer T2, Now, the switching control module 100 controls thetwo-way switch Q5 to switch off and controls the two-way switch Q6 toswitch on, and therefore the energy stored in the second transformer T2is transferred to the charge storage component C1 by the secondtransformer T2 and the one-way semiconductor component D6; now, thevoltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 is inverted suchthat end ‘a’ is negative and end ‘b’ is positive. Thus, the purpose ofinverting the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 isattained.

To recycle the energy in the energy storage circuit, in one embodimentof the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the heating circuitprovided may comprise an energy transfer unit, which is connected withthe energy storage circuit, and is configured to transfer the energy inthe energy storage circuit to the energy storage component after theswitch unit 1 switches on and then switches off. The purpose of theenergy transfer unit is to recycle the energy in the energy storagecircuit. The energy storage component can be an external capacitor, alow temperature battery or electric network, or an electrical device.

Preferably, the energy storage component is the battery E in oneembodiment of the present invention; the energy transfer unit comprisesan electricity recharge unit 103, which is connected with the energystorage circuit, and is configured to transfer the energy in the energystorage circuit to the battery E after the switch unit 1 switches on andthen switches off, as shown in FIG. 11.

In the technical scheme of some embodiments of the present invention,after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off, the energy inthe energy storage circuit can be transferred by the energy transferunit to the battery E, so that the transferred energy can be utilizedcyclically after the switch unit 1 switches on again, and thereby theworking efficiency of the heating circuit is improved.

As one embodiment of the electricity recharge unit 103, as shown in FIG.12, the electricity recharge unit 103 comprises a second DC-DC module 3,which is connected with the charge storage component C1 and the batteryE respectively; the switching control module 100 is also connected withthe second DC-DC module 3, and is configured to control the operation ofthe second DC-DC module 3, so as to transfer the energy in the chargestorage component C1 to the battery E.

The second DC-DC module 3 is a DC-DC (direct current to direct current)conversion circuit for energy transfer commonly used in the field. Thepresent invention does not impose any limitation to the specific circuitstructure of the second DC-DC module 3, as long as the module cantransfer the energy in the charge storage component C1, according tosome embodiments. Those skilled in the art can add, substitute, ordelete the components in the circuit as needed.

FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of the second DC-DC module 3 provided inthe present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the second DC-DC module 3comprises: a two-way switch S1, a two-way switch S2, a two-way switchS3, a two-way switch S4, a third transformer T3, a current storagecomponent L4, and four one-way semiconductor components. In theembodiment, the two-way switch S1, two-way switch S2, two-way switch S3,and two-way switch S4 are MOSFETs.

Wherein: the pin 1 and pin 3 of the third transformer T3 are dottedterminals; the negative electrodes of two one-way semiconductorcomponents among the four one-way semiconductor components are connectedinto a group and their junction point is connected with the positivepole of the battery E through the current storage component L4; thepositive electrodes of the other two one-way semiconductor componentsare connected into a group and their junction point is connected withthe negative pole of the battery E; in addition, the junction pointsbetween the groups are connected with pin 3 and pin 4 of the thirdtransformer T3 respectively, and thereby form a bridge rectifiercircuit.

Wherein: the source electrode of the two-way switch S1 is connected withthe drain electrode of the two-way switch S3, the source electrode ofthe two-way switch S2 is connected with the drain electrode of thetwo-way switch S4, the drain electrodes of the two-way switch S1 andtwo-way switch S2 are connected with the positive end of the chargestorage component C1 respectively, the source electrodes of the two-wayswitch S3 and two-way switch S4 are connected with the negative end ofthe charge storage component C1 respectively; thus, a full-bridgecircuit is formed.

In the full-bridge circuit, the two-way switch S1 and two-way switch S2constitute the upper bridge arm, and the two-way switch S3 and two-wayswitch S4 constitute the lower bridge arm; the pin 1 of the thirdtransformer T3 is connected with the node between two-way switch S1 andtwo-way switch S3, and the pin 2 of the third transformer T3 isconnected with the node between two-way switch S2 and two-way switch S4.

Wherein: the two-way switch S1, two-way switch S2, two-way switch S3,and two-way switch S4 are controlled by the switching control module 100respectively to switch on and switch off.

Hereafter the working process of the second DC-DC module 3 will bedescribed:

1. After the switch unit 1 switches off, the switching control module100 controls the two-way switch S1 and two-way switch S4 to switch on atthe same time to form phase A; and controls the two-way switch S2 andtwo-way switch S3 to switch on at the same time to form phase B. Thus,by controlling the phase A and phase B to switch on alternately, afull-bridge circuit is formed;

2. When the full-bridge circuit operates, the energy in charge storagecomponent C1 is transferred to the battery E through the thirdtransformer T3 and rectifier circuit; and the rectifier circuit convertsthe AC input into DC and outputs the DC to the battery E, to attain thepurpose of electricity recharge.

To enable the heating circuit to recycle the energy in the energystorage circuit while the work efficiency is improved, in one embodimentof the present invention, as shown in FIG. 14, the heating circuit maycomprise an energy superposition and transfer unit, which is connectedwith the energy storage circuit, and is configured to transfer theenergy in the energy storage circuit to the energy storage componentafter the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off, and thensuperpose the remaining energy in the energy storage circuit with theenergy in the battery E. The energy superposition and transfer unit canimprove the working efficiency of the heating circuit and can alsorecycle the energy in the energy storage circuit.

The superposition of the remaining energy in the energy storage circuitwith the energy in the battery E can be achieved by inverting thevoltage polarity of the charge storage component C1; after polarityinversion, the voltage across the charge storage component C1 can beadded in series to the voltage of the battery E.

Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, asshown in FIG. 15, the energy superposition and transfer unit comprises aDC-DC module 4, which is connected with the charge storage component C1and the battery E respectively; the switching control module 100 is alsoconnected with the DC-DC module 4, and is configured to transfer theenergy in the charge storage component C1 to an energy storage componentby controlling the operation of the DC-DC module 4, and then superposethe remaining energy in the charge storage component C1 with the energyin the battery E.

The DC-DC module 4 is a DC-DC (direct current to direct current)conversion circuit for energy transfer and voltage polarity inversioncommonly used in the field. The present invention does not impose anylimitation to the specific circuit structure of the DC-DC module 4, aslong as the module can accomplish energy transfer from the chargestorage component C1 and voltage polarity inversion of the chargestorage component C1, according to some embodiments. Those skilled inthe art can add, substitute, or delete the components in the circuit asneeded.

In one embodiment of the DC-DC module 4, as shown in FIG. 15, the DC-DCmodule 4 comprises: a two-way switch S1, a two-way switch S2, a two-wayswitch S3, a two-way switch S4, a two-way switch S5, a two-way switchS6, a fourth transformer T4, a one-way semiconductor component D13, aone-way semiconductor component D14, a current storage component L4, andfour one-way semiconductor components. In that embodiment, the two-wayswitch S1, two-way switch S2, two-way switch S3, and two-way switch S4are MOSFETs, while the two-way switch S5 and two-way switch S6 areIGBTs.

Wherein: the pin 1 and pin 3 of the fourth transformer T3 are dottedterminals; the negative electrodes of two one-way semiconductorcomponents among the four one-way semiconductor components are connectedinto a group and their junction point is connected with the positivepole of the battery E through the current storage component L4; thepositive electrodes of the other two one-way semiconductor componentsare connected into a group and their junction point is connected withthe negative pole of the battery E; in addition, the junction pointsbetween the groups are connected with pin 3 and pin 4 of the thirdtransformer T3 via two-way switch S5 and two-way switch S6 respectively,and thereby form a bridge rectifier circuit.

Wherein: the source electrode of the two-way switch S1 is connected withthe drain electrode of the two-way switch S3, the source electrode ofthe two-way switch S2 is connected with the drain electrode of thetwo-way switch S4, the drain electrodes of the two-way switch S1 andtwo-way switch S2 are connected with the positive end of the chargestorage component C1 via the one-way semiconductor component D13, thesource electrodes of the two-way switch S3 and two-way switch S4 areconnected with the negative end of the charge storage component C1 viathe one-way semiconductor component D14; thus, a full-bridge circuit isformed.

In the full-bridge circuit, the two-way switch S1 and two-way switch S2constitute the upper bridge arm, and the two-way switch S3 and two-wayswitch S4 constitute the lower bridge arm; the pin 1 of the fourthtransformer T4 is connected with the node between two-way switch S1 andtwo-way switch S3, and the pin 2 of the fourth transformer T4 isconnected with the node between two-way switch S2 and two-way switch S4.

Wherein: the two-way switch S1, two-way switch S2, two-way switch S3,and two-way switch S4, two-way switch S5, and two-way switch S6 arecontrolled by the switching control module 100 respectively to switch onand switch off.

Hereafter the working process of the DC-DC module 4 will be described:

1. After the switch unit 1 switches off, when electricity recharging isto be performed from the charge storage component C1 (i.e., transferringthe energy from the charge storage component C1 back to the battery E)so as to accomplish energy transfer, the switching control module 100controls the two-way switch S5 and S6 to switch on, and controls thetwo-way switch S1 and two-way switch S4 to switch on at the same time,to constitute phase A; the switching control module 100 controls thetwo-way switch S2 and two-way switch S3 to switch on at the same time,to constitute phase B. Thus, by controlling the phase A and phase B toswitch on alternately, a full-bridge circuit is formed;

2. When the full-bridge circuit operates, the energy in charge storagecomponent C1 is transferred to the battery E through the fourthtransformer T4 and rectifier circuit; the rectifier circuit converts theAC input into DC and outputs the DC to the battery E, to attain thepurpose of electricity recharging;

3. When polarity inversion of the charge storage component C1 is to beperformed to accomplish energy superposition, the switching controlmodule 100 controls the two-way switch S5 and two-way switch S6 toswitch off, and controls either of the two groups (two-way switch S1 andtwo-way switch S4, or two-way switch S2 and two-way switch S3) to switchon; now, the energy in the charge storage component C1 flows through thepositive end of charge storage component C1, two-way switch S1, primaryside of the fourth transformer T4, and two-way switch S4 back to thenegative end of the charge storage component C1, or flows through thepositive end of charge storage component C1, two-way switch S2, primaryside of the fourth transformer T4, and two-way switch S3 back to thenegative end of the charge storage component C1. Thus, the purpose ofvoltage polarity inversion of charge storage component C1 is attained byusing the magnetizing inductance at the primary side of T4.

In another embodiment, the energy superposition and transfer unit maycomprise an energy superposition unit and an energy transfer unit,wherein: the energy transfer unit is connected with the energy storagecircuit, and is configured to transfer the energy in the energy storagecircuit to the energy storage component after the switch unit 1 switcheson and then switches off; the energy superposition unit is connectedwith the energy storage circuit, and is configured to superpose theremaining energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in thebattery E after the energy transfer unit performs energy transfer.

Wherein: the energy superposition unit and the energy transfer unit canbe the energy superposition unit and the energy transfer unit providedin the embodiments of the present invention described above, for thepurpose of transferring and superposing the energy in the charge storagecomponent C1. The structure and function of the energy superpositionunit and the energy transfer unit will not be detailed further here.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the improvement of workingefficiency of the heating circuit could be achieved by consuming theenergy in the charge storage component C1. Thus, as shown in FIG. 16,the heating circuit further comprises an energy consumption unit, whichis connected with the charge storage component C1, and is configured toconsume the energy in the charge storage component C1 after the switchunit 1 switches on and then switches off.

The energy consumption unit can be used separately in the heatingcircuit, to consume the energy in the charge storage component C1directly after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off; or,it can be integrated into the embodiments described above, for example,it can be integrated into the heating circuit that comprises an energysuperposition unit, so as to consume the energy in the charge storagecomponent C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches offand before the energy superposition unit performs energy superposition;or, it can be integrated into the heating circuit that comprises anenergy transfer unit, so as to consume the energy in the charge storagecomponent C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches offand before or after the energy transfer unit performs energy transfer;likewise, it can be integrated into the heating circuit that comprisesan energy superposition and transfer unit, so as to consume the energyin the charge storage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches onand then switches off and before the energy superposition and transferunit performs energy transfer, or consume the energy in the chargestorage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and thenswitches off and after the energy superposition and transfer unitperforms energy transfer and before the energy superposition andtransfer unit performs energy superposition; the present invention doesnot impose any limitation to the specific implementation of the energyconsumption unit according to some embodiments. Moreover, the workingprocess of the energy consumption unit can be understood more clearly inthe following embodiments.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the energy consumption unitcomprises a voltage control unit 101, which is configured to convert thevoltage across the charge storage component C1 to a predetermined valueof voltage after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off.The preset value of voltage can be set as needed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 17, thevoltage control unit 101 comprises a damping component R5 and a switchK8, wherein: the damping component R5 and switch K8 are connected witheach other in series, and then connected in parallel across the chargestorage component C1; the switching control module 100 is also connectedwith the switch K8, and is configured to control the switch K8 to switchon after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off. Thus,whenever the switch unit 1 switches off, the energy in the chargestorage component C1 can be consumed across the damping component R5.

The switching control module 100 can be a separate controller, which, byusing internal program setting, enables ON/OFF control of differentexternal switches; or, the switching control module 100 can be aplurality of controllers, for example, a switching control module 100can be set for each external switch correspondingly; or, the pluralityof switching control modules 100 can be integrated into an assembly. Thepresent invention does not impose any limitation to implementation ofthe switching control module 100, according to some embodiments.

According to certain embodiments, the working process of the heatingcircuit for battery E is described briefly below with reference to FIG.18 and FIG. 19. It should be noted that though the features andcomponents of certain embodiments of the present invention are describedspecifically with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, each feature orcomponent may be used separately without other features and components,or may be used in combination or not in combination with other featuresand components. The embodiments of the heating circuit for battery Eprovided in the present invention are not limited to those shown in FIG.18 and FIG. 19.

For example, in the heating circuit for battery E as shown in FIG. 18, aswitch K1 and a one-way semiconductor component D1 constitute the switchunit 1; the energy storage circuit comprises a current storage componentL1 and a charge storage component C1; the damping component R1 and theswitch unit 1 are connected in series with the energy storage circuit;the DC-DC module 4 constitutes an energy superposition and inversionunit; the switching control module 100 can control ON/OFF of the switchK1 and the operation of the DC-DC module 4. FIG. 19 is a timing diagramof waveforms corresponding to the heating circuit as shown in FIG. 18,wherein: V_(C1) refers to the voltage value across the charge storagecomponent C1, and I_(main) refers to the value of current flowingthrough the switch K1. In another example, the working process of theheating circuit as shown in FIG. 18 is as follows:

a) When the battery E needs to be heated, the switching control module100 controls the switch K1 to switch on, and thereby the battery Edischarges through the circuit composed of the switch K1, the one-waysemiconductor component D1, and the charge storage component C1, asindicated by the time duration t1 as shown in FIG. 19; when the currentflowing through the switch K1 reaches zero, the switching control module100 controls the switch K1 to switch off, as indicated by the timeduration t2 as shown in FIG. 19;

b) After the switch K1 switches off, the switching control module 100controls the DC-DC module 4 to start operation; the charge storagecomponent C1 converts a part of AC current into DC current and outputsthe DC current to the battery E via the DC-DC module 4, and therebyaccomplish electricity recharge, as indicated by the time duration t2 asshown in FIG. 19;

c) The switching control module 100 controls the operation of the DC-DCmodule 4, to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage componentC1; then, the switching control module 100 controls the DC-DC module 4to stop operation, as indicated by the time duration t3 as shown in FIG.19;

d) Repeat steps a) through c); the battery E is heated up continuouslyby discharging, till the battery E meets the heating stop condition.

According to some embodiments, the heating circuit provided in thepresent invention can improve the charge/discharge performance of thebattery E; in addition, for example, since the energy storage circuit isconnected with the battery E in series in the heating circuit, safetyproblem related with failure and short circuit caused by failure of theswitch unit 1 can be avoided when the battery E is heated due to theexistence of the charge storage component C1 connected in series, andtherefore the battery E can be protected effectively.

According to one embodiment, a battery heating circuit comprises aswitch unit 1, a switching control module 100, a damping component R1,and an energy storage circuit; the energy storage circuit is configuredto connected with the battery and comprises a current storage componentL1 and a charge storage component C1; the damping component R1, theswitch unit 1, the current storage component L1, and the charge storagecomponent C1 are connected in series; the switching control module 100is connected with the switch unit 1, and is configured to control ON/OFFof the switch unit 1, so as to control energy flowing from the batteryto the energy storage circuit only.

For example, wherein: the damping component R1 is the parasiticresistance in the battery, and the current storage component L1 is theparasitic inductance in the battery. In another example, wherein: thedamping component R1 is a resistor, the current storage component L1 isan inductor, and the charge storage component C1 is a capacitor. In yetanother example, wherein: the heating circuit further comprises anenergy superposition unit, which is connected with the energy storagecircuit, and is configured to superpose the energy in the energy storagecircuit with the energy in the battery after the switching controlmodule 100 controls the switch unit 1 to switch on and then to switchoff. In yet another example, wherein: the energy superposition unitcomprises a polarity inversion unit 102, which is connected with theenergy storage circuit, and is configured to invert the voltage polarityof the charge storage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches onand then switches off.

In yet another example, wherein: the heating circuit further comprisesan energy transfer unit, which is connected with the energy storagecircuit and is configured to transfer the energy in the energy storagecircuit to an energy storage component after the switch unit 1 switcheson and then switches off. In yet another example, wherein: the energystorage component is the battery; the energy transfer unit comprises anelectricity recharge unit 103, which is connected with the energystorage circuit and is configured to transfer the energy in the energystorage circuit to the battery after the switch unit 1 switches on andthen switches off.

In yet another example, wherein: the heating circuit further comprisesan energy superposition and transfer unit connected with the energystorage circuit; the energy superposition and transfer unit isconfigured to transfer the energy in the energy storage circuit to anenergy storage component after the switch unit 1 switches on and thenswitches off, and then superpose the remaining energy in the energystorage circuit with the energy in the battery. In yet another example,wherein: the energy superposition and transfer unit comprises a DC-DCmodule 4, which is connected with the charge storage component C1 andthe battery respectively; the switching control module 100 is alsoconnected with the DC-DC module 4 and is configured to control theoperation of the DC-DC module 4 to transfer the energy in the chargestorage component C1 to the energy storage component, and then superposethe remaining energy in the charge storage component C1 with the energyin the battery.

In yet another example, wherein: the energy superposition and transferunit comprises an energy superposition unit and an energy transfer unit;the energy transfer unit is connected with the energy storage circuitand is configured to transfer the energy in the energy storage circuitto the energy storage component after the switch unit 1 switches on andthen switches off; the energy superposition unit is connected with theenergy storage circuit and is configured to superpose the remainingenergy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the batteryafter the energy transfer unit performs energy transfer. In yet anotherexample, wherein: the energy storage component is the battery; theenergy transfer unit comprises an electricity recharge unit 103, whichis connected with the energy storage circuit and is configured totransfer the energy in the energy storage circuit to the battery afterthe switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off; the energysuperposition unit comprises a polarity inversion unit 102, which isconnected with the energy storage circuit and is configured to invertthe voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 after theelectricity recharge unit 103 performs energy transfer.

In yet another example, wherein: the polarity inversion unit 102comprises a single-pole double-throw switch J1 and a single-poledouble-throw switch J2 located on the two ends of the charge storagecomponent C1 respectively; the input wire of the single-poledouble-throw switch J1 is connected within the energy storage circuit,the first output wire of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 isconnected with the first pole plate of the charge storage component C1,and the second output wire of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 isconnected with the second pole plate of the charge storage component C1;the input wire of the single-pole double-throw switch J2 is connectedwithin the energy storage circuit, the first output wire of thesingle-pole double-throw switch J2 is connected with the second poleplate of the charge storage component C1, and the second output wire ofthe single-pole double-throw switch J2 is connected with the first poleplate of the charge storage component C1; the switching control module100 is also connected with the single-pole double-throw switch J1 andthe single-pole double-throw switch J2 respectively, and is configuredto invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 byaltering the connection relationships between the respective input wiresand output wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 and thesingle-pole double-throw switch J2.

In yet another example, wherein: the polarity inversion unit 102comprises a one-way semiconductor component D3, a current storagecomponent L2, and a switch K9; the charge storage component C1, thecurrent storage component L2 and the switch K9 are connectedsequentially in series to form a loop; the one-way semiconductorcomponent D3 is connected in series between the charge storage componentC1 and the current storage component L2 or between the current storagecomponent L2 and the switch K9; the switching control module 100 is alsoconnected with the switch K9 and is configured to invert the voltagepolarity of the charge storage component C1 by controlling the switch K9to switch on. In yet another example, wherein: the polarity inversionunit 102 comprises a first DC-DC module 2 and a charge storage componentC2; the first DC-DC module 2 is connected with the charge storagecomponent C1 and the charge storage component C2 respectively; theswitching control module 100 is also connected with the first DC-DCmodule 2, and is configured to transfer the energy in the charge storagecomponent C1 to the charge storage component C2 by controlling theoperation of the first DC-DC module 2, and then transfer the energy inthe charge storage component C2 back to the charge storage component C1,so as to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1.

In yet another example, wherein: the electricity recharge unit 103comprises a second DC-DC module 3, which is connected with the chargestorage component C1 and the battery respectively; the switching controlmodule 100 is also connected with the second DC-DC module 3 and isconfigured to transfer the energy in the charge storage component C1 tothe battery by controlling the operation of the second DC-DC module 3.

In yet another example, wherein: the heating circuit further comprisesan energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storagecomponent C1 and is configured to consume the energy in the chargestorage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and thenswitches off. In yet another example, wherein: the energy consumptionunit comprises a voltage control unit 101, which is connected with thecharge storage component C1 and is configured to convert the voltagevalue across the charge storage component C1 to a predetermined voltagevalue after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off.

In yet another example, wherein: the heating circuit further comprisesan energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storagecomponent C1, and is configured to consume the energy in the chargestorage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and thenswitches off and before the energy superposition unit performs energysuperposition. In yet another example, wherein: the energy consumptionunit comprises a voltage control unit 101, which is connected with thecharge storage component C1, and is configured to convert the voltageacross the charge storage component C1 to a predetermined value ofvoltage after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off andbefore the energy superposition unit performs energy superposition.

In yet another example, wherein: the heating circuit further comprisesan energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storagecomponent C1, and is configured to consume the energy in the chargestorage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and thenswitches off and before the energy transfer unit performs energytransfer, or consume the energy in the charge storage component C1 afterthe energy transfer unit performs energy transfer. In yet anotherexample, wherein: the energy consumption unit comprises a voltagecontrol unit 101, which is connected with the charge storage componentC1 and is configured to convert the voltage across the charge storagecomponent C1 to a predetermined value of voltage after the switch unit 1switches on and then switches off and before the energy transfer unitperforms energy transfer, or convert the voltage across the chargestorage component C1 to a predetermined value of voltage after theenergy transfer unit performs energy transfer.

In yet another example, wherein: the heating circuit further comprisesan energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storagecomponent C1, and is configured to consume the energy in the chargestorage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and thenswitches off and before the energy superposition and transfer unitperforms energy transfer, or consume the energy in the charge storagecomponent after the energy superposition and transfer unit performsenergy transfer and before the energy superposition and transfer unitperforms energy superposition. In yet another example, wherein: theenergy consumption unit comprises a voltage control unit 101, which isconnected with the charge storage component C1, and is configured toconvert the voltage across the charge storage component C1 to apredetermined value of voltage after the switch unit 1 switches on andthen switches off and before the energy superposition and transfer unitperforms energy transfer, or convert the voltage across the chargestorage component C1 to a predetermined value of voltage after theenergy superposition and transfer unit performs energy transfer andbefore the energy superposition and transfer unit performs energysuperposition.

In yet another example, wherein: the voltage control unit 101 comprisesa damping component R5 and a switch K8, the damping component R5 and theswitch K8 are connected with each other in series, and then connected inparallel across the charge storage component C1; the switching controlmodule 100 is further connected with the switch K8 and is configured tocontrol the switch K8 to switch on after the control switch unit 1switches on and then switches off.

In yet another example, wherein: the switch unit 1 comprises a switch K1and a one-way semiconductor component D1; the switch K1 and the one-waysemiconductor component D1 are connected with each other in series, andthen connected within the energy storage circuit in series; theswitching control module 100 is connected with the switch K1 andconfigured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit 1 by controlling ON/OFFof the switch K1. In yet another example, wherein: the switching controlmodule 100 is configured to control the switch unit 1 to switch off whenor before the current flowing through the switch unit 1 reaches zeroafter the switch unit 1 switches on. In yet another example, wherein:the switching control module 100 is configured to control the switchunit 1 to switch off before the current flowing through the switch unit1 reaches zero after the switch unit 1 switches on; the switch unit 1comprises a one-way semiconductor component D9, a one-way semiconductorcomponent D10, a switch K2, a resistor R4, and a charge storagecomponent C3; the one-way semiconductor component D9 and the switch K2are connected in series within the energy storage circuit, the resistorR4 and the charge storage component C3 are connected with each other inseries and then connected across the switch K2 in parallel; the one-waysemiconductor component D10 is connected in parallel across the dampingcomponent R4 and is configured to sustain the current flowing throughthe current storage component L1 when the switch K2 switches off; theswitching control module 100 is connected with the switch K2 and isconfigured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit 1 by controlling ON/OFFof the switch K2.

For example, some or all components of various embodiments of thepresent invention each are, individually and/or in combination with atleast another component, implemented using one or more softwarecomponents, one or more hardware components, and/or one or morecombinations of software and hardware components. In another example,some or all components of various embodiments of the present inventioneach are, individually and/or in combination with at least anothercomponent, implemented in one or more circuits, such as one or moreanalog circuits and/or one or more digital circuits.

While some embodiments of the present invention are described above withreference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is notlimited to the details of those embodiments. Those skilled in the artcan make modifications and variations, without departing from the spiritof the present invention. However, all these modifications andvariations shall be deemed as falling into the scope of the presentinvention.

In addition, it should be noted that the specific technical featuresdescribed in the above embodiments can be combined in any appropriateway, provided that there is no conflict. To avoid unnecessaryrepetition, certain possible combinations are not describedspecifically. Moreover, the different embodiments of the presentinvention can be combined as needed, as long as the combinations do notdeviate from the spirit of the present invention. However, suchcombinations shall also be deemed as falling into the scope of thepresent invention.

Hence, although specific embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that thereare other embodiments that are equivalent to the described embodiments.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited by the specific illustrated embodiments, but only by the scopeof the appended claims.

1. A circuit for heating a battery, the circuit comprising: the batteryincluding a first damping component and a first current storagecomponent, the first damping component and the first current storagecomponent being parasitic to the battery, the battery including a firstbattery terminal and a second battery terminal; a switch unit; aswitching control component coupled to the switch unit; and a firstcharge storage component, the first charge storage component and thefirst current storage component being at least parts of an energystorage circuit; wherein: the first damping component, the first currentstorage component, the switch unit, and the first charge storagecomponent are connected in series; and the switching control componentis configured to turn on and off the switch unit so as to control acurrent flowing from the battery to the first charge storage componentbut not to allow any current flowing from the first charge storagecomponent to the battery; wherein the circuit for heating the battery isconfigured to heat the battery by at least discharging the battery. 2.The circuit of claim 1 wherein: the first damping component is aparasitic resistor of the battery; and the first current storagecomponent is a parasitic inductor of the battery.
 3. The circuit ofclaim 2 wherein the first charge storage component is a capacitor. 4.The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy superpositionunit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to,after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, adjust a storagevoltage associated with the first charge storage component so that apositive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component iscoupled, directly or indirectly, to a negative voltage terminal of thebattery.
 5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the energy superposition unitincludes a polarity inversion unit coupled to the first charge storagecomponent and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and thenturned off, invert a voltage polarity associated with the first chargestorage component.
 6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the polarityinversion unit includes: a first single-pole double-throw switch coupledto a first storage terminal of the first charge storage component; and asecond single-pole double-throw switch coupled to a second storageterminal of the second charge storage component; wherein: the firstsingle-pole double-throw switch includes a first input wire, a firstoutput wire, and a second output wire; the first input wire is coupled,directly or indirectly, to the first battery terminal; and the firstoutput wire and the second output wire are coupled to the first storageterminal and the second storage terminal respectively; wherein: thesecond single-pole double-throw switch includes a second input wire, athird output wire, and a fourth output wire; the second input wire iscoupled, directly or indirectly, to the second battery terminal; and thethird output wire and the fourth output wire are coupled to the secondstorage terminal and the first storage terminal respectively; whereinthe switching control component is coupled to the first single-poledouble-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch, andis configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the firstcharge storage component by altering connection relationships among thefirst input wire, the first output wire, the second output wire, thesecond input wire, the third output wire, and the fourth output wire. 7.The circuit of claim 5 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes: asecond current storage component; a second switch; and a first one-waysemiconductor component connected between the first charge storagecomponent and the second current storage component or between the secondcurrent storage component and the second switch; wherein: the firstcharge storage component, the first one-way semiconductor component, thesecond current storage component, and the second switch are at leastparts of a polarity inversion loop; and the switching control componentis coupled to the second switch and is configured to invert the voltagepolarity associated with the first charge storage component by turningon the second switch.
 8. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the polarityinversion unit includes: a second charge storage component; and a firstDC-DC module coupled to the second charge storage component and thefirst charge storage component; wherein the switching control componentis coupled to the first DC-DC module and configured to invert thevoltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component bytransferring energy from the first charge storage component to thesecond charge storage component and then transferring the energy fromthe second charge storage component back to the first charge storagecomponent.
 9. The circuit of claim 4, and further comprising an energyconsumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component andconfigured to consume energy stored in the first charge storagecomponent after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off butbefore the storage voltage is adjusted by the energy superposition unit.10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the energy consumption unit includesa voltage control unit configured to regulate the storage voltageassociated with the first charge storage component to a predeterminedvoltage after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off butbefore the storage voltage is adjusted by the energy superposition unit.11. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy transferunit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to,after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, transfer firstenergy from the first charge storage component to an energy storagecomponent.
 12. The circuit of claim 11 wherein: the energy storagecomponent includes the battery; and the energy transfer unit includes anelectricity recharge unit coupled to the battery and configured totransfer the first energy from the first charge storage component to thebattery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.
 13. Thecircuit of claim 12 wherein: the electricity recharge unit includes aDC-DC module coupled to the first charge storage component and thebattery; and the switching control component is coupled to the DC-DCmodule and configured to control the DC-DC module to transfer the firstenergy from the first charge storage component to the battery.
 14. Thecircuit of claim 11, and further comprising an energy consumption unitcoupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consumesecond energy stored in the first charge storage component after theswitch unit is turned on and then turned off.
 15. The circuit of claim14 wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consumethe second energy stored in the first charge storage component after theswitch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the energytransfer unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storagecomponent to the energy storage component.
 16. The circuit of claim 14wherein the energy consumption unit is further configured to consume thesecond energy stored in the first charge storage component after theswitch unit is turned on and then turned off and after the energytransfer unit transfers the first energy from the first charge storagecomponent to the energy storage component.
 17. The circuit of claim 14wherein the energy consumption unit includes a voltage control unitconfigured to regulate a storage voltage associated with the firstcharge storage component to a predetermined voltage after the switchunit is turned on and then turned off.
 18. The circuit of claim 1, andfurther comprising an energy transfer and superposition unit coupled tothe first charge storage component and configured to, after the switchunit is turned on and then turned off, transfer first energy from thefirst charge storage component to an energy storage component and thenadjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storagecomponent so that a positive voltage terminal of the first chargestorage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to a negativevoltage terminal of the battery.
 19. The circuit of claim 18 wherein:the energy storage component includes the battery; the energy transferand superposition unit includes a DC-DC module coupled to the firstcharge storage component and the battery; and the switching controlcomponent is coupled to the DC-DC module and configured to control theDC-DC module to transfer the first energy from the first charge storagecomponent to the battery and then adjust the storage voltage associatedwith the first charge storage component so that the positive voltageterminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly orindirectly, to the negative voltage terminal of the battery.
 20. Thecircuit of claim 18 wherein: the energy transfer and superposition unitincludes an energy transfer unit and an energy superposition unit; theenergy transfer unit is coupled to the first charge storage componentand configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turnedoff, transfer the first energy from the first charge storage componentto the energy storage component; and the energy superposition unit iscoupled to the first charge storage component and configured to adjustthe storage voltage associated with the first charge storage componentso that the positive voltage terminal of the first charge storagecomponent is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the negative voltageterminal of the battery.
 21. The circuit of claim 20 wherein: the energystorage component includes the battery; and the energy transfer unitincludes an electricity recharge unit coupled to the battery andconfigured to transfer the first energy from the first charge storagecomponent to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and thenturned off.
 22. The circuit of claim 18, and further comprising anenergy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage componentand configured to consume second energy stored in the first chargestorage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turnedoff.
 23. The circuit of claim 22 wherein the energy consumption unit isfurther configured to consume the second energy stored in the firstcharge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and thenturned off but before the energy transfer and superposition unittransfers the first energy from the first charge storage component tothe energy storage component.
 24. The circuit of claim 22 wherein theenergy consumption unit is further configured to consume the secondenergy stored in the first charge storage component after the switchunit is turned on and then turned off and after the energy transfer andsuperposition unit transfers the first energy from the first chargestorage component to the energy storage component.
 25. The circuit ofclaim 22 wherein the energy consumption unit includes a voltage controlunit configured to regulate the storage voltage associated with thefirst charge storage component to a predetermined voltage after theswitch unit is turned on and then turned off.
 26. The circuit of claim1, and further comprising: an energy consumption unit coupled to thefirst charge storage component and including a voltage control unit;wherein: the voltage control unit includes a second damping componentand a first switch connected in series with the second dampingcomponent; the first charge storage component is connected in parallelwith a combination of the second damping component and the first switch;and the switching control component is further coupled to the firstswitch and configured to turn on the first switch after the switch unitis turned on and then turned off.
 27. The circuit of claim 1 wherein:the switch unit includes a first switch and a first one-waysemiconductor component connected in series with the first switch; andthe switching control component is coupled to the first switch andconfigured to turn on and off the switch unit by turning on and off thefirst switch respectively.
 28. The circuit of claim 1 wherein theswitching control component is configured to, after the switch unit isturned on, turn off the switch unit when or before the current reducesto zero in magnitude.
 29. The circuit of claim 28 wherein the switchunit includes: a first one-way semiconductor component; a second one-waysemiconductor component; a first switch; a second damping componentconnected in parallel with the second one-way semiconductor component;and a second charge storage component connected in series with acombination of the second damping component and the second one-waysemiconductor component; wherein: the first switch is connected inparallel with a combination of the second damping component, the secondone-way semiconductor component, and the second charge storagecomponent; and the first one-way semiconductor component is connected inseries with a combination of the first switch, the second dampingcomponent, the second one-way semiconductor component, and the secondcharge storage component; wherein the switching control component iscoupled to the first switch and configured to turn off the switch unitby turning off the first switch before the current reduces to zero inmagnitude.
 30. The circuit of claim 1 is further configured to: startheating the battery if at least one heating start condition issatisfied; and stop heating the battery if at least one heating stopcondition is satisfied.